There aren’t many true chameleons in popular music. I point this out in response to the recent Maxim magazine non-review of the new Black Crowes release, Warpaint, and the faulty logic behind reviewing music you haven’t bothered to listen to. Beyond the dishonesty, and lunacy, of attempting pull such a thing off I sincerely believe that the writer, like most of us, was spoiled by the Beatles ability to reinvent themselves with each release and in doing so change the face and course of music.
Sure, Dylan did it too. Think about how he went from folkie to rocker to countrified songster. And maybe we can throw in Prince during that ‘80s period where he morphed from naughty funkster to Hendrix rocker to acid-pop king. And Neil Young always. But the truth is that, beyond a very small handful, even ...